Nucleic acid constructs and methods for specific silencing of h19

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to recombinant constructs and methods for treating pathological conditions associated with H19 expression, such as tumors characterized by up-regulated expression of H19 RNA. Specifically, the recombinant constructs of the invention comprise at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule directed to H19, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to at least one H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence. Vectors comprising these constructs, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and therapeutic methods of using same are also provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to recombinant constructs and methods for specifically silencing the H19 gene, useful for treating disorders associated with H19 expression such as cancer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Neoplasia is a process that occurs in cancer, by which the normal controlling mechanisms that regulate cell growth and differentiation are impaired, resulting in progressive growth. This impairment of control mechanisms allows a tumor to enlarge and occupy spaces in vital areas of the body. If the tumor invades surrounding tissue and is transported to distant sites (metastases) it will likely result in death of the individual.

The desired goal of cancer therapy is to kill cancer cells preferentially, without having a deleterious effect on normal cells. Several methods have been used in an attempt to reach this goal, including surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Surgery was the first cancer treatment available, and still plays a major role in diagnosis, staging, and treatment of cancer, and may be the primary treatment for early cancers. However, although surgery may be an effective way to cure tumors confined to a particular site, these tumors may not be curable by resection due to micrometastatic disease outside the tumor field. Any cancer showing a level of metastasis effectively cannot be cured through surgery alone.

Radiation therapy is another local (nonsystemic) form of treatment used for the control of localized cancers. Many normal cells have a higher capacity for intercellular repair than neoplastic cells, rendering them less sensitive to radiation damage. Radiation therapy relies on this difference between neoplastic and normal cells in susceptibility to damage by radiation, and the ability of normal organs to continue to function well if they are only segmentally damaged. Thus, the success of radiation therapy depends upon the sensitivity of tissue surrounding the tumor to radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is associated with side effects that depend in part upon the site of administration, and include fatigue, local skin reactions, nausea and vomiting. In addition, radiation therapy is mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic, and may place the patient at risk of developing secondary tumors.

Other types of local therapy have been explored, including local hyperthermia, photoradiation therapy and interstitial radiation. Unfortunately, these approaches have been met with only moderate success.

Local treatments, such as radiation therapy and surgery, offer a way of reducing the tumor mass in regions of the body that is accessible through surgical techniques or high doses of radiation therapy. However, more effective local therapies with fewer side effects are needed. Moreover, these treatments are not applicable to the destruction of widely disseminated or circulating tumor cells eventually found in most cancer patients. To combat the spread of tumor cells, systemic therapies are used.

One such systemic treatment is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the main treatment for disseminated, malignant cancers. However, chemotherapeutic agents are limited in their effectiveness for treating many cancer types, including many common solid tumors. This failure is in part due to the intrinsic or acquired drug resistance of many tumor cells. Another drawback to the use of chemotherapeutic agents is their severe side effects. These include bone marrow suppression, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and ulcerations in the mouth. Clearly, new approaches are needed to enhance the efficiency with which a chemotherapeutic agent can kill malignant tumor cells, while at the same time avoiding systemic toxicity.

RNA Interference and Cancer Therapy

RNA interference (hereinafter “RNAi”) is a method of post-transcriptional inhibition of gene expression that is conserved throughout many eukaryotic organisms. RNAi is induced by short (i.e., <30 nucleotide) double stranded RNA (“dsRNA”) molecules that are present in the cell. These short dsRNA molecules, called “short interfering RNA” or “siRNA”, cause the destruction of messenger RNAs (“mRNAs”) that share sequence homology with the siRNA to within one nucleotide resolution. It is believed that the siRNA and the targeted mRNA bind to an “RNA-induced silencing complex” or “RISC”, which cleaves the targeted mRNA. The siRNA is apparently recycled much like a multiple-turnover enzyme, with 1 siRNA molecule capable of inducing cleavage of approximately 1000 mRNA molecules. siRNA-mediated RNAi degradation of an mRNA is therefore more effective than currently available technologies for inhibiting expression of a target gene.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,559 to Fire et al. teaches genetic inhibition by double-stranded RNA, particularly a process for inhibition of gene expression of a target gene in a cell using RNA having a region with double-stranded structure, wherein the nucleotide sequences of the duplex region of the RNA and of a portion of the target gene are identical.

PCT Pub. No. WO 01/75164 to Tuschl et al. discloses that synthetic siRNA of 21 and 22 nucleotides in length, and which have short 3′ overhangs, are able to induce RNAi of target mRNA in a Drosophila cell lysate. Cultured mammalian cells also exhibit RNAi degradation with synthetic siRNA. PCT Pub. No. WO 02/44321 relates to sequence and structural features of double-stranded (ds) RNA molecules required to mediate target-specific nucleic acid modifications such as RNA-interference and/or DNA methylation.

PCT Pub. No. WO 2006/060454 teaches methods of designing small interfering RNAs, antisense polynucleotides, and other hybridizing nucleotides. US Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0217331 discloses chemically modified double stranded nucleic acid molecules for RNA interference.

Utilization of RNAi technology in cancer therapy has been contemplated, for example, in PCT Pub. Nos. WO 2006/133561, WO 2006/084027, WO 2006/086345, WO 2006/085700 and U.S. Patent application Pub. No. 2006/269518, wherein the use of nucleic acid agents such as siRNA directed to various cellular targets was suggested.

The H19 Gene in Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy

H19 was the first human imprinted non protein-coding gene to be identified showing expression of only the maternal allele. It is also imprinted in mice. H19 was mapped on the short arm of the human chromosome 11, band 15.5, homologous to a region of murine chromosome 7. It belongs to a group of genes that very likely does not code for a protein product. H19 gene is abundantly expressed in embryogenesis but is shut off in most tissues after birth. However, studies of various tumors have demonstrated a re-expression or an over-expression of the H19 gene when compared to healthy tissues. Moreover in cancers of different etiologies and lineages, aberrant expression in allelic pattern was observed in some cases. While H19 shows mono-allelic expression in most tissues throughout development, with the exception of germ cells at certain stages of maturation, and in extra-villous trophoblasts, bi-allelic expression of this gene, referred as “relaxation of imprinting” or “loss of imprinting”, have been found in an increasing number of cancers, for example, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver neoplasms, lung adenocarcinoma, esophageal, ovarian, rhabdomyosarcoma, cervical, bladder, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, colorectal, uterus and in testicular germ cell tumors. Today nearly 30 types of cancers show dysregulated expression of H19 gene as compared to healthy tissues, with or without loss of imprinting.

Gene expression analyses using cancer cell lines have identified a plethora of downstream effectors of H19 RNA. Among these are group of genes that were previously reported to play crucial roles in some aspects of the tumorigenic process (Ayesh et al., 2002; Matouk et al., 2007; Lottin et al., 2002). H19 RNA presence may enhance the invasive, migratory and angiogenic capacity of the cell by up regulating genes that function in those pathways, and thus could contribute at least to the initial steps of the metastatic cascade. Additional studies highlight the potential role of H19 in promoting cancer progression and tumor metastasis by being a gene responsive to hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF). It was also shown that H19 over-expression of ectopic origin conferred a proliferative advantage for breast epithelial cells, and that certain known carcinogens upregulate the expression of the H19 gene.

The specific expression of H19 gene in cancer cells has prompted its use in clinical applications for diagnosing cancer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,955,273 to some of the inventors of the present invention teaches the use of H19 gene as a tumor specific marker. PCT Pub. No. WO 2004/024957 to some of the inventors of the present invention discloses the use of H19 for the detection, in a patient suspected of having cancer, of the presence of residual cancer cells or micro-metastases originating from solid tumors.

PCT Pub. No. WO 99/18195 to some of the inventors of the present invention teaches the specific expression of heterologous sequences, particularly genes encoding cytotoxic products (e.g. Diphtheria toxin), in tumor cells under the control of cancer specific promoters (e.g., H19 promoter). The specification of WO 99/18195 discloses that various heterologous sequences may be expressed under the cancer-specific promoter, including, inter alia, antisense nucleic acid agents or ribozyme molecules directed to various cellular targets such as cyclins and oncogenic forms of p53. The use of vectors encoding specific siRNA agents for silencing H19 is not specifically disclosed.

PCT Pub. No. WO 04/031359 to some of the inventors of the present invention teaches a method for regulating the expression of angiogenesis-controlling genes in cells that are involved in neo-vascularization, comprising administering to the cells an effective amount of an H19 modulator. WO 04/031359 provides a list of angiogenesis-associated conditions, which purportedly may potentially be treated by either increasing or decreasing H19 expression, including, inter alia, cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. While a number of angiogenesis-associated genes were reported to be up-regulated in a carcinoma cell line transfected with an H19-expressing construct, down-regulation of H19 was not demonstrated. Specific siRNA agents, capable of down-regulating H19, were neither taught nor suggested.

A publication by Berteaux et al. (2005) discloses two specific siRNA molecules targeted to H19, which arrest in vitro growth of breast cancer cells. Berteaux et al. do not disclose or suggest expression of these siRNA agents under H19-specific transcriptional control.

Additional species of siRNA intended for silencing H19 are now also available from commercial sources, including Invitrogen, Dharmacon and Qiagen. The efficacy of such commercially available H19 siRNA sequences is putative and their utility remains to be established. Certain commercially available molecules correspond to SEQ ID NOs: 14-25 of the present application.

Poirier et al. (1991) disclose that the murine H19 is not expressed in pre-implantation embryonic cells and its expression is activated during embryogenic stem cell differentiation in vitro and at time of implantation in the developing embryo.

Blythe et al. (1996) have reported that H19 is expressed in murine teratocarcinomas derived from embryonic stem cells.

A publication by Scott et al. (2005) discloses that H19 expression in pluripotent stem cells derived from de-differentiated adipocytes is markedly decreased compared to the native, undifferentiated stem cells. This finding was suggested to be associated with the reduced tendency of de-differentiated stem cells to form tumors. None of the prior art discloses or fairly suggests downregulating H19 levels in stem cells, nor does the art provide nucleic acid agents useful for this purpose.

U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2006/083682 to Bergstein discloses a method of treating cancer, which involves the administration of a therapeutic agent that selectively causes a cancer stem line to switch from symmetric mitosis to asymmetric mitosis. Among the numerous potential agents suggested to be useful for these methods are H19 and endogenous antisense molecules specific to H19. The use of siRNA agents directed to H19 and constructs encoding them is neither taught nor suggested.

A publication by Stuhlmüller et al. (2003) discloses that H19 RNA is expressed in RA synovial tissue. The Stuhlmüller et al. publication demonstrates an increased expression of H19 in synovial fibroblasts grown in vitro under serum starvation conditions, and consequently postulates that H19 might have a pathogenic role in RA. According to Stuhlmüller et al., the pathophysiological role of H19 RNA remains elusive, and its particular role in RA awaits elucidation by functional studies and mutation analysis. Stuhlmüller et al. do not teach or suggest nucleic acid agents useful for treating RA.

WO 2007/034487 discloses a nucleic acid construct comprising: (i) a first nucleic acid sequence encoding TNF alpha; (ii) a second nucleic acid sequence encoding a Diphtheria toxin; and (iii) at least one additional nucleic acid sequence comprising a cancer specific promoter (e.g. an H19 promoter); the TNF alpha and Diphtheria toxin encoding sequences being under an expression control of the cancer specific promoter. Also provided are construct systems and methods and uses of same.

WO 2007/007317, published after the priority date of the present invention, discloses isolated oligonucleotides capable of down-regulating a level of H19 mRNA in cancer cells, and demonstrates in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer effects using siRNA agents comprising SEQ ID NOS: 1-4 of the present invention. Also disclosed are articles of manufacture comprising agents capable of downregulating H19 mRNA in combination with an additional anti-cancer treatment as well as methods of treating cancer by administering same.

There remains an unmet medical need for the development of gene therapy vectors having enhanced therapeutic activity and minimized toxicity for treating neoplastic disorders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for the treatment of cancer and other conditions that are associated with elevated expression of the H19 gene. The compositions and methods of the invention provide a recombinant construct encoding an RNA interference molecule, particularly a small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule, targeted to H19, wherein the siRNA molecule is expressed specifically in the target cell, as detailed hereinbelow.

The present invention discloses for the first time novel constructs and vectors in which siRNA agents directed to H19 are expressed under transcriptional control of the H19 promoter. The invention demonstrates that such constructs may be prepared and used successfully to inhibit tumor progression and metastasis.

Thus, a first aspect of the present invention is directed to a recombinant construct comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a siRNA molecule directed to H19, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to at least one H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence.

In various embodiments, the encoded siRNA molecules of the invention comprise a sense RNA strand and an antisense RNA strand, wherein the sense and the antisense RNA strands form an RNA duplex, and wherein one strand of the siRNA molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence specifically hybridizable with a target sequence of about 10 to about 25 contiguous nucleotides, preferably at least 15, more preferably at least 17 ant most preferably at least 19 contiguous nucleotides in human H19 RNA. Typically, each strand of the siRNA molecule is no more than 30 nucleotides in length, and is preferably about 20-25 or 21-23 nucleotides in length. The encoded siRNA molecules advantageously comprise 3′ nucleotide overhangs on either or both strands, i.e. terminal portions of the nucleotide sequence that are not base paired between the two strands of the double stranded siRNA molecule. Preferably, the overhang is about 1-5 nucleotides in length, e.g. 2 nucleotides in length.

Exemplary encoded H19-specific siRNA are those set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-8 and 19-30, as detailed hereinbelow.

According to certain embodiments, the siRNA molecules encoded by the constructs of the invention comprise a sense strand having a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-4, and analogs thereof, as follows:

UAAGUCAUUUGCACUGGUU; (SEQ ID NO: 1) GCAGGACAUGACAUGGUCC; (SEQ ID NO: 2) CCAACAUCAAAGACACCAU; (SEQ ID NO: 3) and CCAGGCAGAAAGAGCAAGA. (SEQ ID NO: 4)

Preferably, at least one strand of said siRNA molecules comprises a 3′-overhang of about 1-5 nucleotides. In certain other currently preferred embodiments, said siRNA molecules comprise 3′ diuradilic acid overhangs, thus containing a sense strand having a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS:5-8, as follows:

UAAGUCAUUUGCACUGGUUUU; (SEQ ID NO: 5) GCAGGACAUGACAUGGUCCUU; (SEQ ID NO: 6) CCAACAUCAAAGACACCAUUU; (SEQ ID NO: 7) and CCAGGCAGAAAGAGCAAGAUU. (SEQ ID NO: 8)

In another embodiment, the H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence is an H19-specific promoter. In a particular embodiment, the H19-specific promoter has a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 10 (see below). In another particular embodiment, the H19-specific promoter has a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:11.

In another embodiment, the siRNA-encoding nucleic acid sequence is operably linked to the at least one H19-specific enhancer. In some particular embodiments, the enhancer has a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 12-14 (see below).

In another aspect, there is provided a vector comprising a recombinant construct of the invention.

According to a further aspect, there is provided an isolated host cell comprising said vector.

In another aspect, the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active ingredient at least one recombinant construct of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for treating or preventing the symptoms of a disorder associated with increased or aberrant H19 expression in a subject in need thereof, comprising expressing in cells of the subject, under an H19-specific transcriptional control, an siRNA molecule that reduces the level of H19 RNA in the cells, thereby treating or preventing the symptoms of the disorder in said subject.

In one embodiment, the method comprises administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant construct of the invention.

In another embodiment, the method comprises introducing into the cells ex vivo a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant construct of the invention.

In one embodiment, the disorder is a neoplastic disorder.

In another embodiment, the disorder is rheumatoid arthritis.

In another embodiment, the disorder is selected from a teratoma and a teratocarcinoma.

In another aspect, there is provided a method for treating cancer in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant construct of the invention, wherein said subject is afflicted with a tumor characterized by expression of H19 RNA in at least a portion of the cells of the tumor.

In another aspect, there is provided a method for inhibiting tumor progression in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant construct of the invention, wherein said subject is afflicted with a tumor characterized by expression of H19 RNA in at least a portion of the cells of the tumor.

In another embodiment, the tumor is a solid tumor.

In various particular embodiments, the tumor includes, for example, pediatric solid tumors (e.g. Wilms' tumor, hepatoblastoma and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma), germ cell tumors and trophoblastic tumors (e.g. testicular germ cell tumors, immature teratoma of the ovary, sacrococcygeal tumors, choriocarcinoma and placental site trophoblastic tumors), epithelial adult tumors (e.g. bladder carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, cervical carcinoma, lung carcinoma, breast carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma in head and neck, colon carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma and esophageal carcinoma), neurogenic tumors (e.g. astrocytoma, ganglioblastoma and neuroblastoma), prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer (e.g. pancreatic carcinoma). In other embodiments, the tumor includes, for example, Ewing sarcoma, congenital mesoblastic nephroma, gastric adenocarcinoma, parotid gland adenoid cystic carcinoma, duodenal adenocarcinoma, T-cell leukemia and lymphoma, nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, melanoma, osteosarcoma, uterus cancer and non-small cell lung carcinoma.

According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments, the tumor is selected from the group consisting of bladder carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and colon carcinoma.

In another aspect, there is provided a method for inhibiting or preventing tumor metastasis in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant construct of the invention, wherein said subject is afflicted with a tumor characterized by expression of H19 RNA in at least a portion of the cells of the tumor.

Exemplary metastasizing tumors include e.g. colorectal cancer metastasizing to the liver and metastasizing breast cancer. In a particular embodiment, the constructs of the invention are used to prevent or inhibit the formation of liver metastases.

Another aspect of the invention is directed to a method for specifically reducing the level of H19 RNA in a population of H19 expressing cells, comprising introducing into the cells a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant construct of the invention.

In one embodiment, the method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising the construct.

In another embodiment, the method comprises introducing the construct into the cells ex vivo. In another embodiment, the method further comprises the step of introducing the cells comprising said construct into a subject in need thereof.

In another embodiment, said cells are stem cells.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for preventing stem cell differentiation comprising introducing into the cells a recombinant construct of the invention.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. is a schematic representation of an H19 promoter driven H19 shRNA construct. A construct encoding a stem-loop RNA duplex containing sense and antisense strands corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 3, under H19 promoter is illustrated. The expression cassette is followed by a terminator (“term”) and an enhancer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to recombinant constructs and methods for treating pathological conditions associated with H19 overexpression, such as tumors that express H19 RNA. Specifically, the recombinant constructs of the invention comprise at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule directed to H19, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to at least one H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence. Vectors comprising these constructs, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and therapeutic methods of using same are also provided, as detailed herein.

Thus, a first aspect of the present invention provides a recombinant construct comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule directed to H19, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to at least one H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence.

The constructs of the invention enable production and assembly of H19-downregulating siRNA agents specifically in the desired H19-expressing target cell. Thus, the constructs may be administered locally or systemically and enable an efficient and safe administration of the therapeutic agent directly to the target cell.

In one embodiment, the construct encodes a siRNA molecule wherein the siRNA molecule comprises a sense RNA strand and an antisense RNA strand and wherein the sense and the antisense RNA strands form an RNA duplex. In another embodiment, the strands of said siRNA molecule are independently no more than about 30 nucleotides in length. In another embodiment, one strand of said siRNA molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence specifically hybridizable with a target sequence of at least about 10 to about 25 contiguous nucleotides in human H19 RNA, preferably to at least about 19 to about 25 contiguous nucleotides in human H19 RNA.

In another preferable embodiment, said sense strand has a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-4, as detailed in Table 1 hereinbelow.

Optionally, at least one strand of the encoded siRNA molecule comprises a 3′ overhang, as detailed in section (i) hereinbelow. In a particular embodiment, the overhang is about 1-5 nucleotides in length. In another particular embodiment, the overhang is 2 nucleotides in length.

According to a currently preferable embodiment, said sense strand is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:5-8 (see Table 1).

In another aspect, there is provided a recombinant construct comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding an oligonucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:5-8, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to at least one H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence.

In another particular embodiment, the H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence is a promoter having a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS:10 and 11 (see Section (ii) hereinbelow).

In other particular embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence is operably linked to at least one H19-specific enhancer. In certain other particular embodiments, the enhancer has a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS:12-14 (see Section (ii) hereinbelow).

(i) RNA Interference and Small Interfering RNA (siRNA) Agents

In one embodiment, the constructs of the invention express in cells of the subject, under an H19-specific transcriptional control, an siRNA molecule that inhibits or reduces H19 RNA levels via RNA interference.

“RNA interference” or “RNAi” is a term initially applied to a phenomenon observed in plants and worms where double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) blocks gene expression in a specific and post-transcriptional manner. RNA interference is a two-step process. It is believed that during the first step, which is termed the initiation step, input dsRNA is digested into 21-23 nucleotide (nt) small interfering RNAs (siRNA), probably by the action of Dicer, a member of the RNase III family of dsRNA-specific ribonucleases, which cleaves dsRNA (introduced directly or via an expressing vector, cassette or virus) in an ATP-dependent manner. Successive cleavage events degrade the RNA to 19-21 by siRNA duplexes, each strand with 2-nucleotide 3′ overhangs.

In the effector step, the siRNA duplexes bind to a nuclease complex to form the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). An ATP-dependent unwinding of the siRNA duplex is believed to be required for activation of the RISC. The active RISC then targets the homologous transcript by base pairing interactions and cleaves the mRNA into 12 nucleotide fragments from the 3′ terminus of the siRNA. Although the mechanism of cleavage is still to be elucidated, research indicates that each RISC contains a single siRNA and an RNase.

It is possible to eliminate the “initiation step” by providing a priori siRNA. Because of the remarkable potency of RNAi, an amplification step within the RNAi pathway has been suggested. Amplification could occur by copying of the input dsRNAs, which would generate more siRNAs, or by replication of the siRNAs formed. Alternatively or additionally, amplification could be effected by multiple turnover events of the RISC. For more information on RNAi see the following reviews Tuschl (2001); Cullen (2002); and Brantl (2002).

The encoded siRNA molecules of the invention comprise sense and antisense strands having nucleic acid sequence complementarity, wherein each strand is typically about 18-30 nucleotides in length. For example, each strand of the double stranded region may be e.g. 19-28, 19-26, 20-25 or 21-23 nucleotides in length.

In some embodiments, the sense and antisense strands of the present siRNA can comprise two complementary, single-stranded RNA molecules or can comprise a single molecule in which two complementary portions are base-paired and are covalently linked by a single-stranded “hairpin” area (e.g. a shRNA molecule). Without wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that the hairpin area of the latter type of siRNA molecule is cleaved intracellularly by the “Dicer” protein (or its equivalent) to form a siRNA of two individual base-paired RNA molecules.

Preferably, one or both strands of the siRNA of the invention can also comprise a 3′ overhang. As used herein, a “3′ overhang” refers to at least one unpaired nucleotide extending from the 3′-end of an RNA strand. Thus in one embodiment, the siRNA of the invention comprises at least one 3′ overhang of from 1 to about 6 nucleotides in length, from 1 to about 5 nucleotides in length, from 1 to about 4 nucleotides in length, or from about 2 to about 4 nucleotides in length.

In the embodiment in which both strands of the siRNA molecule comprise a 3′ overhang, the length of the overhangs can be the same or different for each strand. In a most preferred embodiment, the 3′ overhang is present on both strands of the siRNA, and is 2 nucleotides in length. For example, each strand of the siRNA of the invention can comprise 3′ overhangs of dithymidylic acid (“TT”) or diuridylic acid (“UU”).

For example, without limitation, synthesis of RNAi molecules suitable for use with the present invention can be effected as follows. First, the H19 nucleic acid sequence target is optionally scanned downstream for AA dinucleotide sequences. Occurrence of each AA and the 3′ adjacent 19 nucleotides is recorded as potential siRNA target sites.

Second, potential target sites are compared to an appropriate genomic database (e.g., human, mouse, rat etc.) using any sequence alignment software, such as the BLAST software available from the NCBI server (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/). Putative target sites that exhibit significant homology to other coding sequences are filtered out.

Qualifying target sequences are selected as template for siRNA synthesis. Preferred sequences are those including low G/C content as these have proven to be more effective in mediating gene silencing as compared to those with G/C content higher than 55%. Several target sites are preferably selected along the length of the target gene for evaluation. For better evaluation of the selected siRNAs, a negative control is preferably used in conjunction. Negative control siRNA preferably include the same nucleotide composition as the siRNAs but lack significant homology to the genome. Thus, a scrambled nucleotide sequence of the siRNA is preferably used, provided it does not display any significant homology to any other gene.

An encoded siRNA agent of the present invention is of at least 10, at least 15, at least 17 or at least 19 bases specifically hybridizable with H19 RNA.

As used herein the phrase “H19 mRNA” (or “H19 RNA”) refers to a transcriptional product of the H19 gene (see for example GenBank Accession No. M32053—SEQ ID NO: 9).

The phrase “specifically hybridizable” as used herein indicates a sufficient degree of complementarity such that stable and specific binding occurs between the target and the oligonucleotide. A nucleic acid sequence specifically hybridizable with H19 RNA has a preference for hybridizing (in cells, under physiological conditions) with H19 RNA as opposed to a non-related RNA molecule (e.g. GAPDH). Preferably, said sequence has at least a 5-fold preference for hybridizing with H19 RNA as opposed to a non-related RNA molecule. Thus, a siRNA specifically hybridizable with H19 RNA has sufficient complementarity to an RNA product of the H19 gene for the siRNA molecule to direct cleavage of said RNA via RNA interference.

siRNA agents directed to H19 are known in the art, and their nucleic acid sequences may be used in preparing the recombinant constructs and vectors of the invention. For example, certain H19-specific siRNA molecules are commercially available, e.g. those having a nucleic acid sequence as denoted by SEQ ID NOs: 19-30, as follows:

SEQ ID NO: 19 CCUCUAGCUUGGAAAUGAAUAUGCU (Exon 4, 1617-1641); SEQ ID NO: 20 CCUGACUCAGGAAUCGGCUCUGGAA (Exon 4, 1664-1688); SEQ ID NO: 21 CCCAACAUCAAAGACACCAUCGGAA (Exon 5, 1719-1743); SEQ ID NO: 22 CACCGCAAUUCAUUUAGUAUU (Exon 1,775-793); SEQ ID NO: 23 GAUCGGUGCCUCAGCGUUCUU (Exon 1, 1285-1303); SEQ ID NO: 24 UGUAUGCCCUCACCGCUCAUU (Exon 1, 1050-1068); SEQ ID NO: 25 GGAGCAGCCUUCAAGCAUUUU (Exon 5, 2201-2219); SEQ ID NO: 26 CCACGGAGUCGGCACACUAdTdT (Exon 1, 1509-1527); SEQ ID NO: 27 CAGCCUUCAAGCAUUCCAUUA (Exon 5, 2205-2225); SEQ ID NO: 28 CUGCACUACCUGACUCAGGAA (Exon 4, 1656-1676); SEQ ID NO: 29 CUCCACGGAGUCGGCACACUA (Exon 3, 1507-1527); SEQ ID NO: 30 CCUCUAGCUUGGAAAUGAAdTdT (1617-1635).

These sequences, or sequences derived therefrom (e.g. variants), may be expressed in the target cells, with or without 3′ overhang residues, as detailed herein. In certain embodiments, the siRNA comprises a sense strand as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 19-21. In certain other embodiments, the siRNA comprises a sense strand as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 23 and 25. In other particular embodiments, the siRNA comprises a sense strand as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 27-29.

As illustrated in Table 1 hereinbelow, preferable encoded siRNA oligonucleotides of the present invention are 19 base pairs in length with two 3′ overhangs on each strand:

TABLE 1 exemplary H19-downregulating siRNA sequences (sense strand) SEQ ID NO: Not Including a including a UU 3′ Sense sequence Location 3′ overhang overhang 5′-UAAGUCAUUUGCACUGGUU-3′ Exon 5 1 5 (2006-2024) 5′-GCAGGACAUGACAUGGUCC-3′ Exon 2 2 6 (1393-1411) 5′-CCAACAUCAAAGACACCAU-3′ Exon 5 3 7 (1720-1738) 5′-CCAGGCAGAAAGAGCAAGA-3′ Exon 1 4 8 (630-648)

In Table 1 and with respect to SEQ ID NOs: 19-30, the nucleotide positions are relative to H19 transcript as set forth in Accession No. NR_(—)002196 (SEQ ID NO:18).

As can be seen in Table 1, an exemplary en coded siRNA molecule of the invention comprises a sense strand and an antisense strand, the sense strand having a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS:1-4, wherein the sense and/or the antisense strand optionally comprises a 3′ overhang.

Examples of siRNAs which are capable of down-regulating H19 that may be used according to this aspect of the present invention are those set forth by SEQ ID NOs: 5-8.

In another embodiment, the encoded siRNA comprises a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-8 and 19-30, wherein each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention. In other embodiments, said siRNA consists of a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-8 and 19-30, wherein each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention. In other embodiments, said siRNA is a homolog, variant, fragment or variant of a fragment of these sequences as detailed herein, wherein each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

(ii) H19-Specific Transcription Regulating Sequences

Described herein are H19 regulatory sequences that can be used to direct the specific expression of the siRNA molecules of the invention. These H19 regulatory sequences include the upstream H19 promoter region and the downstream H19 enhancer region. In certain embodiments, H19 promoter and enhancer sequences which can be used in accordance with the present invention include, but are not limited to, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,833, as detailed hereinbelow.

The H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence of compositions of the present invention is, in another embodiment, an H19 promoter. For example, in another embodiment, the H19 promoter comprises a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 10 and 11. In another embodiment, the H19 promoter consists of a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 10 and 11.

The nucleotide sequence of one H19 promoter region is shown in SEQ ID NO: 10:

(SEQ ID NO: 10) ctgcagggccccaacaaccctcaccaaaggccaaggtggtgaccgacgga cccacagcggggtggctgggggagtcgaaactcgccagtctccactccac tcccaaccgtggtgccccacgcgggcctgggagagtctgtgaggccgccc accgcttcagtagagtgcgcccgcgagccgtaagcacagcccggcaacat gcggtcttcagacaggaaagtggccgcgaatgggaccggggtgcccagcg gctgtggggactctgtcctgcggaaaccgcggtgacgagcacaagctcgg tcaactggatgggaatcggcctggggggctggcaccgcgcccaccagggg gtttgcggcacttccctctgcccctcagcaccccacccctactctccagg aacgtgaggtctgagccgtgatggtggcaggaaggggccctctgtgccat ccgagtccccagggacccgcagctggcccccagccatgtgcaaagtatgt gcagggcgctggcaggcagggagcagcaggcatggtgtcccctgagggga gacagtggtctgggagggagaggtcctggaccctgagggaggtgatgggg caatgctcagccctgtctccggatgccaaaggaggggtgcggggaggccg tctttggagaattccaggatgggtgctgggtgagagagacgtgtgctgga actgtccagggcggaggtgggccctgcgggggccctcgggagggccctgc tctgattggccggcagggcaggggcgggaattctggcgggccaccccagt tagaaaaagcccgggctaggaccgagga. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a homolog of SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a variant of SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a homolog of a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 10. In different embodiments, “homolog” may refer e.g. to any degree of homology disclosed herein. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a variant of a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 10. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

As used herein, the term “variant” refers to substantially similar sequences possessing common qualitative biological activities. An oligonucleotide variant includes a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, homolog, analog, extension or fragment of a nucleotide sequence useful for the invention. Encompassed within the term “variant” are chemically modified natural and synthetic nucleotide molecules (derivatives). Also encompassed within the term “variant” are substitutions (conservative or non-conservative), additions or deletions within the nucleotide sequence of the molecule, as long as the required function is sufficiently maintained. Oligonucleotide and polynucleotides variants may share at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% sequence identity (homology). In different embodiments, “homolog” may refer e.g. to any degree of homology disclosed herein.

In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 60% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 65% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 70% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 74% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 78% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 80% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 84% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 86% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 90% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 92% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 94% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 95% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 96% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 97% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 98% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 99% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 10. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is over 99% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 10. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

The nucleotide sequence of one H19 promoter region is shown in SEQ ID NO: 10 is a 831 nucleotide sequence extending from −837 to −7 nucleotides from the cap site. A consensus TATA sequence occurs at nucleotides −27 to −35. Two consensus AP2 binding sites (8/9 matches) occur at approximately −500 and −40 nucleotides upstream from the initiation of transcription. When placed upstream of the coding region for a heterologous gene, approximately 831 base pairs of the regulatory region is sufficient to direct expression of the operatively linked heterologous gene in cancer cells that also express endogenous H19. In another embodiment, an additional H19 promoter region between nucleotides −819 to +14 (SEQ ID NO: 11) is also sufficient to direct expression of the operatively linked heterologous gene in cancer cells:

(SEQ ID NO: 11) gacaaccctcaccaagggccaaggtggtgaccgacggacccacagcgggg tggctgggggagtcgaaactcgccagtctccactccactcccaaccgtgg tgccccacgcgggcctgggagagtctgtgaggccgcccaccgcttgtcag tagagtgcgcccgcgagccgtaagcacagcccggcaacatgcggtcttca gacaggaaagtggccgcgaatgggaccggggtgcccagcggctgtgggga ctctgtcctgcggaaaccgcggtgacgagcacaagctcggtcaactggat gggaatcggcctggggggctggcaccgcgcccaccagggggtttgcggca cttccctctgcccctcagcaccccacccctactctccaggaacgtgagtt ctgagccgtgatggtggcaggaaggggccctctgtgccatccgagtcccc agggacccgcagctggcccccagccatgtgcaaagtatgtgcagggcgct ggcaggcagggagcagcaggcatggtgtcccctgaggggagacagtggtc tgggagggagaagtcctggccctgagggaggtgatggggcaatgctcagc cctgtctccggatgccaaaggaggggtgcggggaggccgtctttggagaa ttccaggatgggtgctgggtgagagagacgtgtgctggaactgtccaggg cggaggtgggccctgcgggggccctcgggagggccctgctctgattggcc ggcagggcaggggcgggaattctgggcggggccaccccagttagaaaaag cccgggctaggaccgaggagcagggtgagggag. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a homolog of SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a variant of SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a homolog of a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 11. In different embodiments, “homolog” may refer e.g. to any degree of homology disclosed herein. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a variant of a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 11. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 60% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 65% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 70% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 74% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 78% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 80% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 84% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 88% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 90% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 92% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 94% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 95% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 96% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 97% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 98% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is at least 99% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 11. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is over 99% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 11. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

The downstream enhancer region of the human H19 gene can optionally be added to an H19 promoter/siRNA construct in order to provide enhanced levels of cell-specific expression of the siRNA molecule. As expected from an enhancer sequence, the downstream enhancer is able to exert its effect when placed in either reverse or direct orientation (relative to the orientation of the H19 enhancer in the endogenous H19 gene) downstream from the coding region of a heterologous gene under the control of the H19 promoter.

The nucleic acid sequences of certain active human H19 enhancer fragments are set forth in SEQ ID NO: 12 (0.9 kb H19 enhancer fragment), SEQ ID NO: 13 (2 kb H19 enhancer fragment) and SEQ ID NO: 14 (4 kb H19 enhancer fragment), as detailed below. In another embodiment, the H19 enhancer comprises a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 12-14. In another embodiment, the H19 enhancer consists of a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 12-14.

In another embodiment, the H19 enhancer sequence comprises the sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 12) caaggacatggaatttcggaccttctgtccccaccctctctgctgagcct aggaacctctgagcagcaggaaggccttgggtctagagcctagaaatgga cccccacgtccacctgcccagcctagacccccagcattgaagggtggtca gacttcctgtgagaggaagccactaagcgggatggacaccatcgcccact ccacccggccctgcccagccctgcccagtccagcccagtccagcccagcc ctgcccttcccagccctgcccagcccagctcatccctgccctacccagcc cagccctgtcctgccctgcccagcccagcccagcccagccctgccctgcc ctgccctgcccttcccagccctgaccttcccagccctgcccagcccagct catccctgccctacccagctcagccctgccctgccctgccctgccctgcc cagccctacccagcccagccctgccctgccctgcccagctcagccctgcc caccccagcccagcccagcccagcatgcgttctctggatggtgagcacag gcttgaccttagaaagaggctggcaacgagggctgaggccaccaggccac tgggtgctcacgggtcagacaagcccagagcctgctcccctgccacgggt cggggctgtcaccgccagcatgctgtggatgtgcatggcctcagggctgc tggctccaggctgcccccgccctggctcccgaggccacccctcttatgcc atgaaccctgtgccacacccacctctgagctgtccccgctcctgccgcct gcaccccctgagcagccccctgtgtgtttcatgggagtcttagcaaggaa ggggagctcgaattcctgcagcccggg. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a homolog of SEQ ID NO: 12. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a variant of SEQ ID NO: 12. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 12. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a homolog of a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 12. In different embodiments, “homolog” may refer e.g. to any degree of homology disclosed herein. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a variant of a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 12. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the H19 enhancer sequence comprises the sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 13) ccgggtaccgagctcccaggaagataaatgatttcctcctctctagagat gggggtgggatctgagcactcagagccaagggcgcagtgggtccgggcgg gggccctcctcggccctcccaacatgggggccaggaggtcagcccctcaa cctggaccccggctgggtctcagggaatggtctcccccagtggcccagct tgcttgtgttttcagatgggtgtgcatgggtgtgtgtgtgtgtgtgtgtg tgtgtgtgtgtgtgtgtgtgtgtgatgcctgacaagccccagagagccaa agacctgagtggagatcttgtgacttctcaaaagggggattggaaggttc gagaaagagctgtggtcagccttgctctcccttaaggctgtggtaaccac actaggcatagcataggcctgcgccccgtccctccttccctcctccgcgc ctctcctttctctttctcccccctctaccccgctccctggcctgctcctg gtgacaccgttggcccccttccagggctgagggaagccagcgggggcccc ttcctgaaagcccacctgcaggccggcttgctgggaaggggctgctctcg cagaggctcccgcccgccctgcagccgtttcctggaagcagtcgctgtgg gtattctgttccttgtcagcactgtgcttgcaaagaaagcagacactgtg ctccttgtccttagggagccccgctccatcacccaacacctggctggaca caggcgggaggccgggtccgcggggagcggcgcggggctggggccggacc attaaacacacacgggcgccaggcactgcaggctcctcctcctcctcctg cccagcgcctctgctcacaggcacgtgccaagcccctaggccaggaggcc agcagtgggtgcagaacaagctcctgggaagggggtgcagggcggacccc cggggagaagggctggcagggctgtgggggacgctgaccgtgggccccac gttgcagaaaactggntgcctggctggaagatgggggagatgccaagcct ctgaggcagcacgagcagggtgcatggaggccggggcgcggggaggctgc actgcagcatgcaccccaaagcccanagggagtggagaccaggccctgga atcgagaagtagaaaggcggcttggaggcctcggaaccggctgacctcca acagagtgggtctccagcctggctctgccctgccgcaggtcccctcccct cattaccaggcctagagcctccagtcccggtggcccccagcccgagggtg aacggcctcaccctgggtcgtgggacagagggcacgttcatcaagagtgg ctcccaagggacacgtggctgtttgcagttcacaggaagcattcgagata aggagcttgttttcccagtgggcacggagccagcaggggggctgtggggc agcccagggtgcaaggccaggctgtggggctgcagctgccttgggcccca ctcccaggcctttgcgggaggtgggaggcgggaggcggcagctgcacagt ggccccaggcgaggctctcagccccagtcgctctccgggtgggcagccca agagggtctggctgagcctcccacatctgggactccatcacccaacaact taattaaggctgaatttcacgtgtcctgtgacttgggtagacaaagcccc tgtccaaaggggcagccagcctaaggcagtggggacggcgtgggtggcgg gcgacgggggagatggacaacaggaccgagggtgtgcgggcgatggggga gatggacaacaggaccgagggtgtgcgggcgatgggggagatggacaaca ggaccgagggtgtgcgggacacgcatgtcactcatgcacgccaatggggg gcgtgggaggctggggagcagacagactgggctgggctgggcgggaagga cgggcagatg. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a homolog of SEQ ID NO: 13. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a variant of SEQ ID NO: 13. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 13. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a homolog of a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 13. In different embodiments, “homolog” may refer e.g. to any degree of homology disclosed herein. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a variant of a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 13. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment, the H19 enhancer sequence comprises the sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 14) ccgggtaccgagctcccaggaagataaatgatttcctcctctctagagat gggggtgggatctgagcactcagagccaagggcgcagtgggtccgggcgg gggccctcctcggccctcccaacatgggggccaggaggtcagcccctcaa cctggaccccggctgggtctcagggaatggtctcccccagtggcccagct tgcttgtgttttcagatgggtgtgcatgggtgtgtgtgtgtgtgtgtgtg tgtgtgtgtgtgtgtgtgtgtgatgcctgacaagccccagagagccaaag acctgagtggagatcttgtgacttctcaaaagggggattggaaggttcga gaaagagctgtggtcagccttgctctcccttaaggctgtggtaaccacac taggcatagcataggcctgcgccccgtccctccttccctcctccgcgcct ctcctttctctttctcccccctctaccccgctccctggcctgctcctggt gacaccgttggcccccttccagggctgagggaagccagcgggggcccctt cctgaaagcccacctgcaggccggcttgctgggaaggggctgctctcgca gaggctcccgcccgccctgcagccgtttcctggaagcagtcgctgtgggt attctgttccttgtcagcactgtgcttgcaaagaaagcagacactgtgct ccttgtccttagggagccccgctccatcacccaacacctggctggacaca ggcgggaggccgggtccgcggggagcggcgcggggctggggccggaccat taaacacacacgggcgccaggcactgcaggctcctcctcctcctcctgcc cagcgcctctgctcacaggcacgtgccaagcccctaggccaggaggccag cagtgggtgcagaacaagctcctgggaagggggtgcagggcggacccccg gggagaagggctggcagggctgtgggggacgctgaccgtgggccccacgt tgcagaaaactggntgcctggctggaagatgggggagatgccaagcctct gaggcagcacgagcagggtgcatggaggccggggcgcggggaggctgcac tgcagcatgcaccccaaagcccanagggagtggagaccaggccctggaat cgagaagtagaaaggcggcttggaggcctcggaaccggctgacctccaac agagtggggccggccctggaggcaaagaggtgcccggggtccggccctgc ctgggggagctatgtgtcatgggcaagccacaggatatgtagcccgctct gagcctatggacccagggcagggctgcaaggcagggcaggggagacagca cgggggagcaaggagcagagagggggcctcaggctctcccaggaggaaca ttctcccgacaggaggaagagacggcccaggggtgactgtggggagccat ggtggcagctggggtcgtggcagatgggagagaggctggcgaggtgaagg tgcaggggtcagggctctggggcccacatgcctgtgggagcaggcaggcc cagggctctccgccactccccactcccgcttggctcataggctgggccca agggtggggtgggatgagcaggagatggggcccagggggcaagcagggcc ccaaagacatttagaaaaaccggtttatgcaggcagcattcagagcaggc ggcgtgcgtggcgggggccctgggagcacagagaggcacacgtagggccc ccgaggggctccccattggccggcagtgacatcacccctgtgtcaacagt gatgtctgcagctccggccagccagggtttatggagcgagacccagcccg gcctgggccctcactccccaggcccacacactagcccactgttcagggtc cggggtggcggcatggcctgggggtcctggcaccgctgctcctctgccca ccctaacttcccggcatcgcggctgccccctctgagcgtccccaaccagt aagtgtggggcccagcaggcctgccgtcctcctcctcttcccctctagag agaaacgtggaggtcctggggctgggggcgctcatagccctgtgacacag gtgcatggggtcaggggtcccagaatggcccctgggaaggacctcagctg ggccggcggctctaggcttcaggggtctgtctgcacaggggntagcccct cccagacctctgtgaagccagtacgggcctcccctccctgccccgtgctc tgtccggtgcttcctggactgcactgcgggccactggtgagagggtggac agggaagggccgccgtggtgcctgttcctgcccacctggctgtgtggtcc cctccaagtagggacaacccttctgagggcttgggggcaccctggggttg ccagggcctcccagagccctgtgagcccctggggggtctggcctgatgcc cccctccacgtccagggccggctgtggcccagaaccccagcttcccagca ggccggtgtgcggtggtgacccaggagaggcctcgcctccactgaggggc caccgacctctgtcagaccacagagacccccaaggagtctgaaggctgga gacccggggctgggaccaggtgggactttcccacggagccgtccccaggc ccagctggggacacgtcccccttctctccagacacaccctgcctgccacc aggacacaccggcctgttgggggtctcttttaagtgcttgccactctgag gtgactgtccctttccaaagaggtttctggggcccaggtgggatgcgtcg gcctgagcaggaggatctgggccgccaggggctggggactgtctcctggg gaaggaagcgcctgggagcgtgtgtgctgacccaggaccatccagggagg cccgtctgtggggcaagcgggaagggagcggctggagaggcttggccgcc cccgccctgcctcccattccttagctccatgcctgtcaacctctgtcacc cagtgagtgatgtccaggggccctggaaaggtcacagcatgtttgagcgg ggtgagagagaggggaaaggcgggggcggggaaaagtacgtggaggaagc tttaggcccaaggaaggagacagggttctgggagggagggagccactggg gccgccgggaaggtccctgcttgctgctgccacccagaaccctcgcctct tagctagcccccgcagccccagcctttctggctttgtggccctctccccc atccccaggtgtcctgtgcaaccaggccttggacccaaaccctcctgccc cctcctctccctcctcaccctcccaatgcagtggtctccagcctggctct gccctgccgcaggtcccctcccctcattaccaggcctagagcctccagtc ccggtggcccccagcccgagggtgaacggcctcaccctgggtcgtgggac agagggcacgttcatcaagagtggctcccaagggacacgtggctgtttgc agttcacaggaagcattcgagataaggagcttgttttcccagtgggcacg gagccagcaggggggctgtggggcagcccagggtgcaaggccaggctgtg gggctgcagctgccttgggccccactcccaggcctttgcgggaggtggga ggcgggaggcggcagctgcacagtggccccaggcgaggctctcagcccca gtcgctctccgggtgggcagcccaagagggtctggctgagcctcccacat ctgggactccatcacccaacaacttaattaaggctgaatttcacgtgtcc tgtgacttgggtagacaaagcccctgtccaaaggggcagccagcctaagg cagtggggacggcgtgggtggcgggcgacgggggagatggacaacaggac cgagggtgtgcgggcgatgggggagatggacaacaggaccgagggtgtgc gggcgatgggggagatggacaacaggaccgagggtgtgcgggacacgcat gtcactcatgcacgccaatggggggcgtgggaggctggggagcagacaga ctgggctgggctgggcgggaaggacgggcagatg.

In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a homolog of SEQ ID NO: 14. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a variant of SEQ ID NO: 14. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 14. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a homolog of a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 14. In different embodiments, “homolog” may refer e.g. to any degree of homology disclosed herein. In another embodiment, the H19 sequence is a variant of a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 14. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

Additionally, fragments of this enhancer, e.g. fragments containing the sequences as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 12-14 may also be used to facilitate gene expression.

In another embodiment, the H19-specific transcription regulating sequence is a regulatory sequence derived from an H19 transcription regulating sequence (promoter or enhancer). As used herein, a description of a regulatory sequence “derived from” an H19 transcriptional regulatory sequence refers to a sequence “derived” (see below) from a region of the gene that regulates and/or controls the expression of the H19 coding sequences. As such, a regulatory sequence includes, without limitation, a sequence derived from a promoter or enhancer of the H19 sequences.

The term “derived” refers to the fact that a transcriptional regulatory sequence (for example, a promoter or enhancer) can be the complete native regulatory sequence of the gene, a portion of the native regulatory sequence, a chimeric construction of the native regulatory sequence, a combinatorial construction of one or more native regulatory sequences, or a variant of the native regulatory sequence obtained by, for example, deletion, addition or replacement of at least one nucleotide. A variant regulatory sequence can comprise modified nucleotides. The derived sequence preferably demonstrates properties of control/regulation (e.g., increase/decrease) of the expression of sequences operably linked thereto.

Alterations in the regulatory sequences can be generated using a variety of chemical and enzymatic methods which are well known to those skilled in the art. For example, regions of the sequences defined by restriction sites can be deleted. oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis can be employed to alter the sequence in a defined way and/or to introduce restriction sites in specific regions within the sequence. Additionally, deletion mutants can be generated using DNA nucleases such as Ba131 or ExoIII and S1 nuclease. Progressively larger deletions in the regulatory sequences are generated by incubating the DNA with nucleases for increased periods of time.

The altered sequences are evaluated for their ability to direct tumor specific expression of heterologous coding sequences in appropriate host cells. It is within the scope of the present invention that any altered regulatory sequences which retain their ability to direct tumor specific expression be incorporated into the nucleic acid constructs of the present invention for further use.

(iii) Constructs, Vectors and Host Cells

Thus, some embodiments of the present invention provide recombinant constructs for producing specifically in H19-expressing cells therapeutic siRNA agents that reduce or inhibit H19 expression.

The term “construct” as used herein includes a nucleic acid sequence encoding silencing oligonucleic acid according to the present invention, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to a promoter and optionally other transcription regulation sequences.

The constructs of the present invention may be produced using standard recombinant and synthetic methods well known in the art. An isolated nucleic acid sequence can be obtained from its natural source, either as an entire (i.e., complete) gene or a portion thereof. A nucleic acid molecule can also be produced using recombinant DNA technology (e.g., polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, cloning) or chemical synthesis (see e.g. Sambrook et al., 2001; Ausubel, et al., 1989, Chapters 2 and 4). Nucleic acid sequences include natural nucleic acid sequences and homologs thereof, including, but not limited to, natural allelic variants and modified nucleic acid sequences in which nucleotides have been inserted, deleted, substituted, and/or inverted in such a manner that such modifications do not substantially interfere with the nucleic acid molecule's ability to encode a functional oligonucleotide of the invention.

A nucleic acid molecule analog can be produced using a number of methods known to those skilled in the art (see, for example, Sambrook et al., 2001). For example, nucleic acid molecules can be modified using a variety of techniques including, but not limited to, classic mutagenesis techniques and recombinant DNA techniques, such as site-directed mutagenesis, chemical treatment of a nucleic acid molecule to induce mutations, restriction enzyme cleavage of a nucleic acid fragment, ligation of nucleic acid fragments, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and/or mutagenesis of selected regions of a nucleic acid sequence, synthesis of oligonucleotide mixtures and ligation of mixture groups to “build” a mixture of nucleic acid molecules and combinations thereof. For example, nucleic acid molecule analogs can be selected from a mixture of modified nucleic acids by screening for the function of the oligonucleic acid encoded by the nucleic acid with respect to tumor progression, for example by the methods described herein.

The phrase “operably linked” refers to linking a nucleic acid sequence to a transcription control sequence in a manner such that the molecule is able to be expressed when transfected (i.e., transformed, transduced, infected or transfected) into a host cell. Transcription control sequences are sequences, which control the initiation, elongation, and termination of transcription. Particularly important transcription control sequences are those which control transcription initiation, such as promoter, enhancer, operator and repressor sequences. Suitable transcription control sequences include any transcription control sequence that can function in at least one of the recombinant cells of the present invention. A variety of such transcription control sequences are known to those skilled in the art. Exemplary suitable transcription control sequences include those that function in animal, bacteria, helminth, yeast and insect cells. The constructs of the invention comprise mammalian transcription control sequences, preferably human regulatory sequences, and, optionally and additionally, other regulatory sequences.

In various embodiments, the constructs of the invention comprise nucleic acid sequences encoding an H19-specific siRNA molecule, or a component or precursor thereof, wherein these nucleic acid sequences are under an H19 expression control.

As used herein the phrase “being under H19 expression control” (or “transcriptional control”) refers to the transcription of the encoded sequence from an H19-specific promoter sequence which is operably-linked thereto to regulate their expression pattern (including spatial and temporal expression pattern).

The nucleic acid construct of methods and compositions of the present invention is, in another embodiment, a eukaryotic expression vector. In another embodiment, the nucleic acid construct is a plasmid. In another embodiment, the nucleic acid construct is any other type of expression vector capable of mediating expression in a cancer cell. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

The construct may also comprise other regulatory sequences or selectable markers, as known in the art.

Optionally, the construct may further comprise one or more sequences encoding additional gene products under an H19-specific transcriptional control. Thus for example, the constructs may also encode cytotoxic or cytostatic agents (e.g. diphtheria toxin) or reporter gene products, expressed specifically in the H19-expressing target cell.

As used herein the phrase “Diphtheria toxin” (DT or DTX) refers to at least an active portion of the Diphtheria toxin which promotes cell death. DT is comprised of two polypeptide fragments, A and B (Eisenberg, 1994). Fragment A (DTA) consists of the catalytic domain (C), whereas fragment B is made up of the receptor domain, (R), and the transmembrane domain, (T). The R domain contains a receptor portion which binds to the HB-EGF receptor on the cell surface. The bound toxin then enters the cytoplasm by endocytosis. The C-terminus hydrophobic series of α-sheets, known as the T domain, then embeds itself into the membrane, causing the N-termininus C domain to be cleaved and translocated into the cytoplasm. Once cleaved, the C domain becomes an active enzyme, catalyzing the creation of ADP-ribose-EF-2 from the protein synthesis translocation peptide EF-2 and NAD+. A single C domain can use a cell's entire supply of EF-2 within hours, bringing protein synthesis to a halt, resulting in cell death. Since the present invention envisages recombinant preferably intracellular expression of the toxin the minimal C domain may be used. According to presently known preferred embodiments of this aspect of the present invention the toxin is diphtheria A chain toxin.

In another aspect, there is provided a vector comprising at least one recombinant construct comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule directed to H19, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to at least one H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence.

As used herein, the term “vector” refers to a construct, comprising a regulatory sequence operatively linked to a heterologous polynucleotide, that is administered to target cells. The vector can be a viral expression vector, a plasmid or a construct of naked DNA, and, optionally, can include additional sequences required for construction, selection, stability, penetration, etc.

In some embodiments, such vectors may be used for delivering and expressing the desired oligonucleic acid in the target cell, and/or for replicating the constructs of the invention in vitro. In certain embodiments, vectors can be plasmid, viral, or others known in the art, used for replication and expression in mammalian cells. Any type of plasmid, cosmid, YAC or viral vector can be used to prepare the recombinant DNA construct that can be introduced directly into the tissue site. Alternatively, viral vectors can be used which selectively infect the desired tissue, in which case administration may be accomplished by another route (e.g., systematically).

Suitable vectors for producing various expression-regulating oligonucleic acids are known in the art. For example, RNAi expression vectors (also referred to as a dsRNA-encoding plasmid) are replicable nucleic acid constructs used to express (transcribe) RNA which produces siRNA moieties in the cell in which the construct is expressed. Such vectors include a transcriptional unit comprising an assembly of (1) genetic element(s) having a regulatory role in gene expression, for example, promoters, operators, or enhancers, operatively linked to (2) a “coding” sequence which is transcribed to produce a double-stranded RNA (two RNA moieties that anneal in the cell to form an siRNA, or a single hairpin RNA which can be processed to an siRNA), and (3) appropriate transcription initiation and termination sequences.

Some of these vectors have been engineered to express small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), which get processed in vivo into siRNA-like molecules capable of carrying out gene-specific silencing. Another type of siRNA expression vector encodes the sense and antisense siRNA strands under control of separate promoters. The siRNA strands from this vector, like the shRNAs of the other vectors, may have 3′ thymidine termination signals. Silencing efficacy by both types of expression vectors was comparable to that induced by transiently transfecting siRNA.

Enhancer elements can stimulate transcription up to 1,000 fold from linked homologous or heterologous promoters. Enhancers are active when placed downstream or upstream from the transcription initiation site. Many enhancer elements derived from viruses have a broad host range and are active in a variety of tissues. For example, the SV40 early gene enhancer is suitable for many cell types. Other enhancers that are suitable for the present invention include those derived from polyoma virus, human or murine cytomegalovirus (CMV), the long term repeat from various retroviruses such as murine leukemia virus, murine or Rous sarcoma virus and HIV.

In the construction of the expression vector, the promoter is preferably positioned approximately the same distance from the heterologous transcription start site as it is from the transcription start site in its natural setting. As is known in the art, however, some variation in this distance can be accommodated without loss of promoter function.

Polyadenylation sequences can also be added to the expression vector in order to increase RNA stability. Two distinct sequence elements are required for accurate and efficient polyadenylation: GU or U rich sequences located downstream from the polyadenylation site and a highly conserved sequence of six nucleotides, AAUAAA, located 11-30 nucleotides upstream. Exemplary termination and polyadenylation signals that are suitable for the present invention include those derived from SV40.

In addition to the elements already described, the expression vector of the present invention may typically contain other specialized elements intended to increase the level of expression of cloned nucleic acids or to facilitate the identification of cells that carry the recombinant DNA. For example, a number of animal viruses contain DNA sequences that promote the extra chromosomal replication of the viral genome in permissive cell types. Plasmids bearing these viral replicons are replicated episomally as long as the appropriate factors are provided by genes either carried on the plasmid or with the genome of the host cell.

The vector may or may not include a eukaryotic replicon. If a eukaryotic replicon is present, then the vector is amplifiable in eukaryotic cells using the appropriate selectable marker. If the vector does not comprise a eukaryotic replicon, no episomal amplification is possible. Instead, the recombinant DNA integrates into the genome of the engineered cell, where the promoter directs expression of the desired nucleic acid.

Recombinant viral vectors are useful for in vivo expression of the H19 down-regulating agents of the present invention since they offer advantages such as lateral infection and targeting specificity. Lateral infection is inherent in the life cycle of, for example, retrovirus and is the process by which a single infected cell produces many progeny virions that bud off and infect neighboring cells. The result is that a large area becomes rapidly infected, most of which was not initially infected by the original viral particles. This is in contrast to vertical-type of infection in which the infectious agent spreads only through daughter progeny. Viral vectors can also be produced that are unable to spread laterally. This characteristic can be useful if the desired purpose is to introduce a specified gene into only a localized number of targeted cells.

Various methods can be used to introduce the expression vector of the present invention into cells. Such methods are generally described in Sambrook et al., 2001, in Ausubel et al., 1989, Chang et al., 1995, Vega et al., 1995, and Gilboa et at., 1986, and include, for example, stable or transient transfection, lipofection, electroporation and infection with recombinant viral vectors. In addition, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,464,764 and 5,487,992 for positive-negative selection methods.

Introduction of nucleic acids by viral infection offers several advantages over other methods such as lipofection and electroporation, since higher transfection efficiency can be obtained due to the infectious nature of viruses.

Other than containing the necessary elements for the transcription of the inserted coding sequence, the expression construct of the present invention can also include sequences engineered to enhance stability, production, purification, yield or toxicity of the expressed RNA.

In certain embodiments, the vector is constructed so as to enable stable expression of the siRNA agent in the target cell. For example, the vector may be integrated to the genome of the target cell using viral vectors (e.g. lentiviral vectors) or specific recombination (e.g. by the Cre/lox site-specific recombination system known in the art may be conveniently used which employs the bacteriophage P1 protein Cre recombinase and its recognition sequence loxP).

In another aspect, the invention provides an isolated host cell comprising at least one recombinant construct comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule directed to H19, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to at least one H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence. Various suitable prokaryotic and eukaryotic host cells with suitable expression vectors are known in the art, including, but not limited to animal cells (including mammalian cells, e.g. human cells such as Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) or COS cells), bacterial cells, plant cells, yeast cells and insect cells.

(iv) Pharmaceutical Compositions

In another aspect, the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active ingredient at least one recombinant construct of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent.

As used herein, a “pharmaceutical composition” refers to a preparation of one or more of the active ingredients described herein, e.g. a construct encoding a siRNA molecule, with other components such as physiologically suitable carriers and excipients. The purpose of a pharmaceutical composition is to facilitate administration of a compound to a subject.

Hereinafter, the phrases “therapeutically acceptable carrier” and “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier”, which may be used interchangeably, refer to a carrier or a diluent that does not cause significant irritation to an organism and does not abrogate the biological activity and properties of the administered compound.

Herein, the term “excipient” refers to an inert substance added to a pharmaceutical composition to further facilitate administration of an active ingredient. Examples, without limitation, of excipients include calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, various sugars and types of starch, cellulose derivatives, gelatin, vegetable oils, and polyethylene glycols.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a therapeutic composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. As used herein, a “carrier” refers to any substance suitable as a vehicle for delivering a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention to a suitable in vivo or in vitro site. As such, carriers can act as a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient of a therapeutic composition containing a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention. Preferred carriers are capable of maintaining a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention in a form that, upon arrival of the nucleic acid molecule to a cell, the nucleic acid molecule is capable of entering the cell and being expressed by the cell. Carriers of the present invention include: (1) excipients or formularies that transport, but do not specifically target a nucleic acid molecule to a cell (referred to herein as non-targeting carriers); and (2) excipients or formularies that deliver a nucleic acid molecule to a specific site in a subject or a specific cell (i.e., targeting carriers). Examples of non-targeting carriers include, but are not limited to water, phosphate buffered saline, Ringer's solution, dextrose solution, serum-containing solutions, Hank's solution, other aqueous physiologically balanced solutions, oils, esters and glycols. Aqueous carriers can contain suitable auxiliary substances required to approximate the physiological conditions of the recipient, for example, by enhancing chemical stability and isotonicity.

Suitable auxiliary substances include, for example, sodium acetate, sodium chloride, sodium lactate, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, and other substances used to produce phosphate buffer, Tris buffer, and bicarbonate buffer. Auxiliary substances can also include preservatives, such as thimerosal, m- and o-cresol, formalin and benzol alcohol. Preferred auxiliary substances for aerosol delivery include surfactant substances non-toxic to a subject, for example, esters or partial esters of fatty acids containing from about six to about twenty-two carbon atoms. Examples of esters include, caproic, octanoic, lauric, palmitic, stearic, linoleic, linolenic, olesteric, and oleic acids. Other carriers can include metal particles (e.g., gold particles) for use with, for example, a biolistic gun through the skin. Therapeutic compositions of the present invention can be sterilized by conventional methods.

Targeting carriers are herein referred to as “delivery vehicles”. Delivery vehicles of the present invention are capable of delivering a therapeutic composition of the present invention to a target site in a subject. A “target site” refers to a site in a subject to which one desires to deliver a therapeutic composition. Examples of delivery vehicles include, but are not limited to, artificial and natural lipid-containing delivery vehicles. Natural lipid-containing delivery vehicles include cells and cellular membranes. Artificial lipid-containing delivery vehicles include liposomes and micelles. A delivery vehicle of the present invention can be modified to target to a particular site in a subject, thereby targeting and making use of a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention at that site. Suitable modifications include manipulating the chemical formula of the lipid portion of the delivery vehicle and/or introducing into the vehicle a compound capable of specifically targeting a delivery vehicle to a preferred site, for example, a preferred cell type. Specifically targeting refers to causing a delivery vehicle to bind to a particular cell by the interaction of the compound in the vehicle to a molecule on the surface of the cell. Suitable targeting compounds include ligands capable of selectively (i.e., specifically) binding another molecule at a particular site. Examples of such ligands include antibodies, antigens, receptors and receptor ligands. For example, an antibody specific for an antigen found on the surface of a target cell can be introduced to the outer surface of a liposome delivery vehicle so as to target the delivery vehicle to the target cell. Manipulating the chemical formula of the lipid portion of the delivery vehicle can modulate the extracellular or intracellular targeting of the delivery vehicle. For example, a chemical can be added to the lipid formula of a liposome that alters the charge of the lipid bilayer of the liposome so that the liposome fuses with particular cells having particular charge characteristics.

In certain particular embodiments, a delivery vehicle of the present invention is a liposome. A liposome is capable of remaining stable in a subject for a sufficient amount of time to deliver a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention to a preferred site in the subject. A liposome of the present invention is preferably stable in the subject into which it has been administered for at least about 30 minutes, more preferably for at least about 1 hour and even more preferably for at least about 24 hours.

A liposome of the present invention comprises a lipid composition that is capable of targeting a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention to a particular, or selected, site in a subject.

Suitable liposomes for use with the present invention include any liposome. Preferred liposomes of the present invention include those liposomes standardly used in, for example, gene delivery methods known to those of skill in the art. In certain embodiments, more preferred liposomes comprise liposomes having a polycationic lipid composition and/or liposomes having a cholesterol backbone conjugated to polyethylene glycol.

Preferably the pharmaceutical composition can also include a transfection agent such as DOTMA, DOPE, and DC-Cho1 (Tonkinson et al., 1996). A preferred example of a transfection agent is poly(ethylamine) (PEI).

Another delivery vehicle comprises a recombinant virus particle. A recombinant virus particle of the present invention includes a therapeutic composition of the present invention, in which the recombinant molecules contained in the composition are packaged in a viral coat that allows entrance of DNA into a cell so that the DNA is expressed in the cell. A number of recombinant virus particles can be used, including, but not limited to, those based on adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses, herpesviruses, lentivirus and retroviruses.

Other agents can be used are e.g. cationic lipids, polylysine, and dendrimers. Alternatively, naked DNA can be administered.

(v) Therapeutic Use

In other embodiments, the constructs, vectors and compositions of the invention are useful for the treatment of cancer and other conditions in which inappropriate or detrimental expression of the H19 gene is a component of the etiology or pathology of the condition, as detailed hereinbelow.

Thus, some embodiments of the present invention are directed to the use of a recombinant construct that expresses in cells of the subject, under an H19-specific transcriptional control, an H19-downregulating siRNA molecule, for the preparation of a medicament. In certain embodiments, the medicament is useful for treating or preventing a disorder associated with increased or aberrant H19 expression, for treating or preventing cancer, for inhibiting tumor progression or metstasis and/or for inducing tumor regression.

In various embodiments, the H19-silencing oligonucleotide is specifically hybridizable with an H19 RNA comprising a sequence according to any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-8 and 19-30.

In one aspect, the invention provides a method for treating a disorder associated with increased or aberrant H19 expression in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject at least one recombinant construct that expresses in cells of the subject, under an H19-specific transcriptional control, a siRNA molecule that inhibits or reduces H19 expression, thereby treating the disorder in said subject.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for treating or preventing a disorder associated with increased or aberrant H19 expression in a subject in need thereof, comprising introducing into cells of the subject (e.g. transfecting or infecting the cells with) at least one recombinant construct that expresses in cells of the subject, under an H19-specific transcriptional control, an siRNA molecule that inhibits or reduces H19 expression, thereby treating the disorder in said subject.

In some embodiments, the subject is a mammalian subject, preferably a human subject.

In one embodiment, the method comprises administering to said subject a recombinant construct comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule directed to H19, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to at least one H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence.

In another embodiment, the disorder is a neoplastic disorder.

In certain embodiments, constructs of the invention are useful for inhibiting, reducing or ameliorating the clinical symptoms and signs of RA.

The onset of RA is usually insidious, beginning with systemic symptoms and progressing to joint symptoms, but symptoms can occur simultaneously. Systemic symptoms include early morning stiffness of affected joints, generalized afternoon fatigue and malaise, anorexia, generalized weakness, and low-grade fever. Joint symptoms include pain and stiffness.

Joint symptoms are characteristically symmetric. Typically, stiffness lasts >60 min on rising in the morning but may occur after any prolonged inactivity. Involved joints become quite tender, with erythema, warmth, swelling, and limitation of motion. The wrists and the index and middle metacarpophalangeal joints are most commonly involved. Others include the proximal interphalangeal, metatarsophalangeal, elbows, and ankles; however, any joint may be involved. The axial skeleton is rarely involved except for the upper cervical spine. Synovial thickening is detectable. Joints are often held in flexion to minimize pain, which results from joint capsular distention.

Fixed deformities, particularly flexion contractures, may develop rapidly; ulnar deviation of the fingers with an ulnar slippage of the extensor tendons off the metacarpophalangeal joints is typical, as are swan-neck and boutonniére deformities. Joint instability can also occur. Carpal tunnel syndrome can result from wrist synovitis pressing on the median nerve. Ruptured popliteal (Baker's) cysts can develop, producing calf swelling and tenderness suggestive of deep venous thrombosis.

Subcutaneous rheumatoid nodules are not usually an early sign but eventually develop in up to 30% of patients, usually at sites of pressure and chronic irritation (e.g., the extensor surface of the forearm). Visceral nodules, usually asymptomatic, are common in severe RA. Other extra-articular signs include vasculitis causing leg ulcers or mononeuritis multiplex, pleural or pericardial effusions, pulmonary nodules, pulmonary fibrosis, pericarditis, myocarditis, lymphadenopathy, Felty's syndrome, Sjögren's syndrome, and episcleritis. Involvement of the cervical spine can produce atlantoaxial subluxation and spinal cord compression; it may worsen with extension of the neck (e.g., during endotracheal intubation).

In yet another embodiment, the disorder is other than rheumatoid arthritis.

Other embodiments of the invention are directed to preventing the formation of teratomas and teratocarcinomas that may develop following stem cell transplantation. The methods of the invention thus encompass pre-treatment of stem cells, prior to transplantation, using a nucleic acid agent capable of silencing or down-regulating H19. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the stem cells are introduced with (e.g. transfected or infected with) a recombinant construct comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule directed to H19, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to at least one H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence.

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells, which can give rise to a succession of mature functional cells. Embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent, thus possessing the capability of developing into any organ or tissue type or, at least potentially, into a complete embryo. Adult stem cells are stem cells derived an adult organism, which can be pluripotent or partially committed progenitor cells.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for treating cancer in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant construct comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule directed to H19, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to at least one H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence, wherein said subject is afflicted with a tumor characterized by expression of H19 RNA in at least a portion of the cells of the tumor.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for inhibiting tumor progression in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant construct comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule directed to H19, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to at least one H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence, wherein said subject is afflicted with a tumor characterized by expression of H19 RNA in at least a portion of the cells of the tumor.

In another aspect, there is provided a method for inducing tumor regression in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant construct comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule directed to H19, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to at least one H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence, wherein said subject is afflicted with a tumor characterized by expression of H19 RNA in at least a portion of the cells of the tumor.

In another embodiment, tumors that may be treated according to the method of the present invention are those that express H19 RNA during tumor onset or progression. In another embodiment, the tumor is a solid tumor. For example, in some embodiments, the tumor may include pediatric solid tumors (e.g. Wilms' tumor, hepatoblastoma and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma), wherein each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention. In other embodiments, the tumor includes, but is not limited to, germ cell tumors and trophoblastic tumors (e.g. testicular germ cell tumors, immature teratoma of the ovary, sacrococcygeal tumors, choriocarcinoma and placental site trophoblastic tumors), wherein each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention. According to additional embodiments, the tumor includes, but is not limited to, epithelial adult tumors (e.g. bladder carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, cervical carcinoma, lung carcinoma, breast carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma in head and neck, colon carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma and esophageal carcinoma), wherein each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention. In yet further embodiments, the tumor includes, but is not limited to, neurogenic tumors (e.g. astrocytoma, ganglioblastoma and neuroblastoma), wherein each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment, the tumor is prostate cancer. In another embodiment, the tumor is pancreatic cancer. In other embodiments, the tumor includes, for example, Ewing sarcoma, congenital mesoblastic nephroma, gastric adenocarcinoma, parotid gland adenoid cystic carcinoma, duodenal adenocarcinoma, T-cell leukemia and lymphoma, nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, melanoma, osteosarcoma, uterus cancer and non-small cell lung carcinoma, wherein each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the present invention.

In another particular embodiment, the tumor is other than breast cancer.

In a particular embodiment, the tumor is bladder carcinoma.

In another particular embodiment, the tumor is hepatocellular carcinoma.

In yet another particular embodiment, the tumor is colon carcinoma.

In another embodiment, said tumor comprises a population of cancer stemline cells, i.e. slow-growing, relatively mutationally spared symmetrically dividing stem cells.

In another embodiment, the methods of the invention further comprise a step of detecting the presence of H19 RNA in tumor cells obtained from the subject, wherein the presence of H19 RNA in at least a portion of the tumor cells is indicative that said tumor is treatable by the methods of the present invention. For example, the presence of H19 RNA may be detected by methods known in the art such as PCR, RT-PCR, in situ PCR, in situ RT-PCR, LCR and, 3SR, and hybridization with a probe comprising a detectable moiety. In other embodiments, the presence of H19 RNA may be determined in a cell or tissue sample derived from the tumor, or, in alternate embodiments, in cell-containing specimens of body fluids, rinse fluids that were in contact with the primary tumor site, or tissues or organs other than the tissue primary tumor site (e.g. for detecting tumor metastases).

In another aspect, there is provided a method for inhibiting or preventing tumor metastasis in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant construct comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule directed to H19, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to at least one H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence, wherein said subject is afflicted with a tumor characterized by expression of H19 RNA in at least a portion of the cells of the tumor.

Exemplary metastasizing tumors include, e.g. colorectal cancer metastasizing to the liver and metastasizing breast cancer. In a particular embodiment, the constructs of the invention are used to prevent or inhibit the formation of liver metastases.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for specifically reducing the levels of H19 RNA in cells of a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant construct comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule directed to H19, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to at least one H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence.

Another aspect of the invention is directed to a method for specifically reducing the level of H19 RNA in a population of H19 expressing cells, comprising introducing into the cells a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant construct comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule directed to H19, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to at least one H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence.

In one embodiment, the method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical compositions comprising the construct.

In another embodiment, the method comprises introducing the construct into the cells ex vivo. In another embodiment, the method further comprises the step of introducing said cells into a subject in need thereof following their exposure to the construct.

In another embodiment, said cells are stem cells.

In some embodiments, the constructs of the invention are useful for temporarily inhibiting or delaying loss of stem cell pluripotency, for inhibiting differentiation of stem cells in culture, or for promoting de-differentiation to pluripotent stem cells. In another aspect, the invention provides a method for preventing stem cell differentiation comprising introducing into the cells a recombinant construct comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule directed to H19, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to at least one H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence.

In order to treat a subject with a disease, a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is administered to the subject in an effective manner such that the composition is capable of treating that subject from disease. According to the present invention, treatment of a disease refers to alleviating a disease and/or associated symptoms and/or preventing the development of a secondary disease resulting from the occurrence of a primary disease. An effective administration protocol (i.e., administering a pharmaceutical composition in an effective manner) comprises suitable dose parameters and modes of administration that result in treatment of a disease. Effective dose parameters and modes of administration can be determined using methods standard in the art for a particular disease. Such methods include, for example, determination of survival rates, side effects (i.e., toxicity) and progression or regression of disease.

In accordance with the present invention, a suitable single dose size is a dose that is capable of treating a subject with disease when administered one or more times over a suitable time period. For example, a suitable single dose size may induce a reduction in tumor cell mass in a subject in need thereof. Doses of a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention suitable for use with direct injection techniques can be used by one of skill in the art to determine appropriate single dose sizes for systemic administration based on the size of a subject.

Suitable routes of administration may, for example, include oral, rectal, transmucosal, especially transnasal, intestinal or parenteral delivery, including intramuscular, subcutaneous and intramedullary injections as well as intrathecal, direct intraventricular, intravenous, inrtaperitoneal, intranasal, intraarterial, intravesicle (into the bladder) or intraocular injections.

Alternately, one may administer a preparation in a local rather than systemic manner, for example, via injection of the preparation directly into a specific region of a patient's body or by direct administration into a body cavity such as the bladder, uterus etc.

In certain embodiments, the nucleic acid constructs of the present invention can be used to treat cancer alone or in combination with other established or experimental therapeutic regimens against cancer. Therapeutic methods for treatment of cancer suitable for combination with the present invention include, but are not limited to, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, phototherapy and photodynamic therapy, surgery, nutritional therapy, ablative therapy, combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy, brachiotherapy, proton beam therapy, immunotherapy, cellular therapy, and photon beam radiosurgical therapy.

The following examples are presented in order to more fully illustrate some embodiments of the invention. They should, in no way be construed, however, as limiting the broad scope of the invention.

Examples Example 1 Recombinant Constructs Expressing siRNA Agents Under H19 Promoter

Nucleic acid sequences encoding double stranded siRNA molecules (or shRNA precursors thereof) having a sense strand as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-4, are cloned under H19 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 10) using recombinant DNA technology. The resulting constructs comprise at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a siRNA molecule, wherein the nucleic acid sequence is operably linked to the H19-specific promoter. The resulting siRNA molecules comprise a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-4 and optionally 3′ overhang sequences on either or both strands. FIG. 1 illustrates an H19 promoter driven H19 shRNA construct, which expresses an exemplary shRNA precursor of an siRNA containing sense and antisense strands corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 3, under expression control of the H19 promoter. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the shRNA precursor is constructed with a GC overhang (and additional 3′ overhang residues may include poly-A residues, introduced by the vector).

As a control, nucleic acid sequences encoding siRNA (or shRNA precursors thereof) targeted to GFP (having a sense strand as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 17: 5′-GCA AGC UGA CCC UGA AGU UCA U) or luciferase (having a sense strand as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 39: 5′-CUU ACG CUG AGU ACU UCGA dTdT-3′) are cloned under the H19 promoter.

Example 2 Specificity of the Constructs

2.1. Screening Carcinoma Cell Lines for H19 Gene Expression:

A panel of carcinoma cell lines is checked for H19 gene expression by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and QPCR analyses.

Human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B, bladder carcinomas Umuc3 and T24P, cervical carcinoma Hela, pancreatic carcinoma L3.6pl, and pluripotent embryonal carcinomas (CRL-2073 and CRL 1973) are obtained from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). The cells are maintained in DMEM-F12 (1:1) medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (inactivated at 55° C. for 30 min), 25 mM HEPES (pH 7.4), penicillin (180 units/ml), streptomycin (100 μg/ml) and amphotericin B (0.2 μg/ml). Every 4 days, the cells are trypsinized with 0.05% trypsin-EDTA solution (Beit Haemek, Israel) for 10 min and are re-plated again using the same initial densities.

Total cellular RNAs are extracted from these cells using RNeasy mini kit (Qiagen, Germany), the levels of H19 mRNAs in the total cellular RNAs are measured using semi-quantitative RT-PCR technique and QPCR as follows:

For semi-quantitative RT-PCR, 1 μg total RNA is used to initiate cDNA synthesis using the p (dT)15 primer (Roche, Germany), with 400 units of Reverse Transcriptase (Gibco BRL), according to manufacturer's instructions. The PCR reaction for H19 is carried out using Taq polymerase (Takara, Otsu, Japan) for 29 cycles (94° C. for 30 s, 58° C. for 30 s, and 72° C. for 30 s) preceded by 94° C. for 5 min, and a final extension of 5 min at 72° C. PCR for GAPDH is for 22 cycles (94° C. for 45 s, 60° C. for 45 s, and 72° C. for 90 s) preceded by 94° C. for 5 min, and a final extension of 5 min at 72° C.

The sense primer and antisense primer sequences used in RT-PCR are as follows:

Sense primer specific for H19: (SEQ ID NO: 31) 5′-CCG GCC TTC CTG AAC A-3′; Antisense primer specific for H19: (SEQ ID NO: 32) 5′-TTC CGA TGG TGT CTT TGA TGT-3′; Sense primer specific for GAPDH: (SEQ ID NO: 33) 5′-GGC TCT CCA GAA CAT CAT CCC TGC-3′; Antisense primer specific for GAPDH: (SEQ ID NO: 34) 5′-GGG TGT CGC TGT TGA AGT CAG AGG-3′.

For QPCR, cDNA is synthesized using 1 μg RNA in a total volume of 20 μl reaction mix using the QuantiTect Reverse Transcription kit (Qiagen), according to the manufactures instructions. Relative quantitation of cDNA samples is performed using an ABI Prism 7900HT sequence detection system, and the appropriate software (SDS2.2) according to the manufacturer's instructions (Applied Biosystems, 850 Lincoln centre drive, Foster City, Calif.) and β-actin is used as an internal standard. Two μl of the prepared cDNA is amplified in a mixture of 20 μl containing 0.5 μM primers for the H19 (5′-TGCTGCACTTTACAACCACTG-3′, SEQ ID NO: 35) upstream, (5′ ATGGTGTCTTTGATGTTGGGC-3′, SEQ ID NO: 36) downstream, and 0.9 μM of the β-actin primers (5′-CCTGGGACCTGCCTGAACT-3′, SEQ ID NO: 37) forward, (5′-AATGCAGAGCGTCTTCCCTTT-3′, SEQ ID NO: 38) reverse. 0.1 μM fluorescent probe 6-FAM-TCGGCTCTGGAAGGTTGAAGCTAGAGGA-TAMRA) is used for H19 and 0.25 μM of the β-actin fluorescent probe (6-FAM-TGGTCAGAGAGAGACAC) is used. The PCR conditions consist of 1 cycle of 2 min at 50° C. and 1 cycle of 10 min at 95° C. followed by 40 cycles of 95° C. for 15 sec, and 60° C. for 60 sec.

2.2. Establishing Carcinoma Cell Lines with Low (T24P) and High (Hela) H19 Expression Ectopically Expressing the Luciferase Gene.

T24P and Hela cells are seeded (2*10⁵) in 6-well plates 24 hours before transfection in antibiotics free medium, so that they are at 90% confluent at the time of transfection. Transfection is performed using lipofectamine 2000 and an appropriate luciferase-expressing construct with a selectable marker and origin of replication. Selection with antibiotics is initiated 24 hours post transfection using standard protocol till stable lines are produced.

2.3. Transfection of T24P and Hela Cells with a Luciferase-Specific siRNA Construct

Stably luciferase expressing T24P and Hela cells are transiently transfected with a plasmid expressing luciferase-specific siRNA under H19 expression control (Example 1) and the control plasmid (expressing GFP-specific siRNA). Briefly, Transfection of the constructs is conducted with lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen, U.S.A.) in 12-well plates. The day prior to transfection, the cells are trypsinized, counted, and seeded at 100,000 cells/well containing 1 ml DMEM medium without antibiotics so that they are nearly 90% confluent on the day of transfection. Lipofectamine 2000 (3 μl) is incubated for 15 minutes with 100 μl serum-free OPTI-MEM medium (Invitrogen, U.S.A.) and supplemented with 1.6 μg of the constructs diluted in 100 μl serum-free OPTI-MEM media. 195 μl of the mixture is applied to the cells and incubated for another 48 hours without replacement of the medium, before checking the luciferase activities in the cells. Luciferase activities are measured using standard procedures.

Example 3 Ex vivo Silencing of H19 RNA

The siRNA-expressing vectors described above (in Example 1) are transfected to Hep3B, UMUC3, L3.6pl, CRL-2073 and CRL-1973 cells according to standard procedure, as described in Example 2.3. For enrichment, cells are incubated with G418 antibiotics to select for cells that are transfected with the constructs

The ability of the transfected constructs to reduce the endogenous level of H19 RNA is examined 48 hours post transfection. To this end, total RNA and reverse transcription is performed as follows. Total RNA is extracted from tissues and cultured cell lines using the TRI REAGENT (Sigma) according to the manufacturer's instructions and treated with DNase I to exclude genomic DNA contamination as described previously (Ayesh and Matouk et al, 2002).

The synthesis of cDNA and subsequent RT-PCR and QPCR analysis for H19 are conducted as described in Example 2.

PCR reaction for H19 is carried out using Taq polymerase (Takara, Otsu, Japan) for 30 cycles (94° C. for 30 s, 58° C. for 30 s, and 72° C. for 30 s) preceded by 94° C. for 5 min, and a final extension of 5 min at 72° C. for Hep3B cells and 29 cycles for UMUC3 cells.

The primers used in the PCR reaction are (5′-AGGAGCACCTTGGACATCTG-3′; SEQ ID NO:15) and (5′-CCCCTGTGCCTGCTACTAAA-3′; SEQ ID NO:16) and are 117 and 816 bases downstream to the published transcription H19 initiation site, respectively. The products of the PCR reaction are run on ethidium bromide stained gels.

Example 4 Effect of ex vivo Silencing of H19 RNA on in vivo Tumoreginicity

Hep3B, UMUC3, L3.6pl, CRL-1973 and CRL-2073 cells stably transfected in vitro by the siRNA-encoding constructs as described in Example 3, are injected subcutaneously into the dorsal flank region of athymic nude mice. Control groups include cells stably transfected with the GFP-specific siRNA-encoding constructs and an additional control group is without any treatment. Cells are trypsinized, counted, centrifuged and re-suspended into sterile PBS (1×), so that there are about 5×10⁶ cells/ml. 250 μl of the suspension is injected into the dorsal flank region of athymic nude mice. Fifteen and 30 days post injection, tumors volumes are measured using a caliper.

Cologenicity Assay.

2.5×10³ Hep3B, L3.6pl, UMUC3, CRL-1973 or CRL-2073 cells stably transfected with each construct are seeded in 6-well plates containing 0.3% top low-melt agarose-0.8% bottom low-melt agarose. Cells are fed every 4 days and colonies are counted microscopically after 2-4 weeks. Control groups are those cells transfected by the GFP-specific siRNA-encoding constructs and an additional control group is cells without any treatment.

Cell Proliferation Assay.

5×10³ Hep3B, L3.6pl, UMUC3, CRL-1973, CRL-2073 cells stably transfected with each construct are seeded in quadruples in 96 well plates in DMEM media containing 10% FCS, and further incubated for 24 hours before MTS assay is performed. MTS assay is performed according to the procedure provided by the supplier (Promega, USA). The absorbance at 490 nm is recorded using ELISA plate reader. Control group are those cells transfected by the GFP-specific siRNA-encoding constructs and an additional control group is cells without any treatment.

In-vivo Injection of the Constructs in Different Tumor Models

Different models are tested: heterotopic models of hepatocellular and bladder carcinomas induced by Hep3B or UMUC3, respectively; and heterotopic teratocarcinoma models induced by CRL-1973 and CRL-2073 cell lines. An animal model for pancreatic cancer metastasis is induced by injecting L3.6pL cells directly in the liver.

In the heterotopic models, intratumoral injections of the H19- or GFP-specific siRNA constructs are performed as follows:

Preparation of constructs for injection: the transfectant used is jetPEI™ (x10) cone from Polyplus. 25 μg of the plasmids and 4 μl of jetPEI (N/P=5), are diluted in 50 μl 5% glucose solution, 5 minutes after, jetPEI solution is added to plasmid solutions and the formulation lasts 20 minutes before intratumoral (for UMUC3, CRL-1973, CRL-2073) or initial inoculation site (for Hep3B) injections.

Experimental procedure: 2×10⁶ cells (UMUC3, Hep3B, CRL-1973 or CRL2073) are suspended in 100 μl PBS separately and injected subcutaneously in the dorsa of 20 athymic mice for each group.

UMUC3, CRL-1973, CRL-2073 cells: When the tumors reach about 4-8 mm in diameter, mice are segregated to two homogeneous groups (n=10), and receive the first intratumoral injections of the plasmids. A total of 3 injections are administered at 2 and 5 days intervals following the first intratumoral injection and mice are left 6 days post final injection without any treatment. Tumor volumes are measured using a caliper, and their final tumor weights are recorded after scarifying the animals.

Hep3B cells: For Hep3B cells, treatments begin 48 hours following cell inoculation before palpable tumors are observed. The mice are segregated into two groups (n=10 each), and injected with the plasmids at the site of initial inoculation. Mice receive a total of 5 injections, every two days, and then are left for a week post final injection before scarifying them.

Tumor volume is calculated by the equation, V=(L×W²)×0.5 (V, volume; L, length; and W, width).

The animal model for pancreatic cancer metastasis in liver:

In this model hydrodynamic tail vein injections of the plasmids are performed using TransIT-QR (Mirus), hydrodynamic delivery solution. Rapid injection of the plasmids formulated with this solution into a rodent's tail vein of a sufficient volume of nucleic acid solution elevates the pressure within the blood vessel and enhances the vessel permeability, thereby enabling passage of nucleic acid molecules to target cells. This formulation is optimized for efficient delivery of naked nucleic acids to the liver (with significant but reduced levels of delivery to the spleen, lungs, heart, and kidneys.), with the additional benefit that the injected mice demonstrate quick recovery (QR) post-injection compared to animals injected using normal saline.

Preparation of the constructs for hydrodynamic tail vein injections:

Total volume (ml) of TransIT-QR hydrodynamic delivery solution is calculated per each mouse using the formula (mouse weight (g)/10+0.1 ml delivery solution). 50 μg of either the H19-specific or GFP-specific siRNA plasmids are mixed with the calculated volumes of TransIT-QR solution and injections are performed within 30 minutes of mixing.

Experimental procedure: Athymic nude mice are used to generate the model for L3.6pl induced pancreatic metastasis in the liver. After anesthetization of the mice, the liver is surgically exposed and 40 ml of tumor cell suspension containing (1.0×10⁶) tumor cells in PBS is injected subcapsularly in the right lobes of the liver, using a 25-gauge needle. One week after cells inoculation, the mice (n=10) for each group are treated through intravenous injection using hydrodynamic tail vein injection with 50 μg siRNA plasmid targeting either the H19 gene or GFP as a control. The plasmids are formulated with indicated volumes of TransIT-QR as described above and are injected intravenously through the tail vein within 4-7 seconds at constant rate. The mice are treated three times separated by 3 days intervals. The mice are left 3 days after the last injections before scarifying them. Their livers are exposed and the dimensions of the developed tumors are recorded ex-vivo by a caliper.

REFERENCES

-   Ausubel, et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley     and Sons, Baltimore, Md., 1989. -   Ayesh et al., Mol Carcinog 35, 63-74, 2002. -   Ayesh, Matouk et al, Mol Ther 7, 535-541, 2002. -   Berteaux et al., J Biol Chem. 280(33):29625-36, 2005. -   Blythe N L, Senior P V, Beck F. Expression of insulin-like growth     factor II (IGF)-II) and H19 in murine teratocarcinomas derived from     embryonic stem (ES) cells. J Anat., 188 (Pt 1):65-74, 1996. -   Brantl Biochem. Biophys. Act. 1575:15-25, 2002. -   Chang et al., Somatic Gene Therapy, CRC Press, Ann Arbor, Mich.,     1995. -   Cullen Nat. Immunol. 3:597-599, 2002. -   Eisenberg, D. “Refined structure of dimeric diphtheria toxin at 2.0     angstrom resolution.” Protein Science 3, 1444-1463, 1994. -   Gilboa et at., Biotechniques 4 (6): 504-512, 1986. -   Lottin et al., Oncogene. February 28;21(10):1625-31, 2002. -   Matouk et al., PLoS One e845, 2007. -   Poirier F, Chan C T, Timmons P M, Robertson E J, Evans M J, Rigby     P W. The murine H19 gene is activated during embryonic stem cell     differentiation in vitro and at the time of implantation in the     developing embryo. Development, 113(4):1105-14, 1991. -   Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold     Springs Harbor Laboratory, New York, 2001. -   Scott R E, Gao S, Kim C K, Cox R. De-differentiation-derived     mesenchymal stem cells demonstrate selective repression in H19     bioregulatory RNA gene expression. Differentiation 73(6):294-302,     2005 -   Tonkinson et al., Cancer Investigation, 14(1): 54-65, 1996. -   Tuschl Chem Biochem. 2:239-245, 2001. -   Vega et al., Gene Targeting, CRC Press, Ann Arbor Mich., 1995.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. The means, materials, and steps for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a variety of alternative forms without departing from the invention. 

1-49. (canceled)
 50. A recombinant construct comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule directed to H19, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to at least one H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence.
 51. The construct of claim 50, wherein the siRNA molecule comprises a sense RNA strand and an antisense RNA strand, wherein the sense and the antisense RNA strands form an RNA duplex, wherein the strands are independently no more than about 30 nucleotides in length, and wherein one strand of said siRNA molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence specifically hybridizable with a target sequence of about 10 to about 25 contiguous nucleotides in human H19 RNA.
 52. The construct of claim 51, wherein said siRNA molecule has a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-8 and 19-30, or wherein at least one strand comprises a 3′ overhang, or both.
 53. The construct of claim 52, (i) wherein said siRNA molecule has a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-4, or wherein at least one strand comprises a 3′ overhang of about 1-5 nucleotides in length, or both; or (ii) wherein said siRNA molecule has a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 5-8, or wherein at least one strand comprises a 3′ overhang of 2 nucleotides in length, or both.
 54. The construct of claim 50, wherein the H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence is a promoter having a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS:10 and 11; or wherein the H19-specific transcription-regulating sequence comprises at least one H19-specific enhancer.
 55. The construct of claim 54, wherein the at least one H19-specific enhancer has a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 12-14.
 56. A vector comprising the construct according to claim
 50. 57. An isolated host cell comprising the vector of claim
 56. 58. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the construct according to claim 50 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent.
 59. The composition of claim 58, wherein the siRNA molecule comprises a sense strand having a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-4, or in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 5-8, or in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 19-30.
 60. A method for treating the symptoms of a disorder associated with increased or aberrant H19 expression in a subject in need thereof, comprising expressing in cells of the subject, under an H19-specific transcriptional control, an siRNA molecule that reduces the level of H19 RNA in the cells, thereby treating the symptoms of the disorder in said subject.
 61. The method of claim 60 comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of the recombinant construct according to claim 50, or introducing into the cells ex vivo a therapeutically effective amount of the recombinant construct according to claim
 50. 62. The method of claim 60, wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of a neoplastic disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, teratoma and teratocarcinoma.
 63. The method of claim 62 for treating cancer or inhibiting tumor progression in said subject, wherein said subject has a tumor characterized by expression of H19 RNA in at least a portion of the cells of the tumor.
 64. The method of claim 63, wherein the tumor is a solid tumor selected from the group consisting of pediatric solid tumors, germ cell tumors, trophoblastic tumors, epithelial adult tumors and neurogenic tumors; or wherein the tumor is selected from the group consisting of Wilms' tumor, hepatoblastoma, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, testicular germ cell tumors, immature teratoma of the ovary, sacrococcygeal tumors, choriocarcinoma, placental site trophoblastic tumors, bladder carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, cervical carcinoma, lung carcinoma, breast carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma in head and neck, esophageal carcinoma, astrocytoma, ganglioblastoma, neuroblastoma, colon carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, Ewing sarcoma, congenital mesoblastic nephroma, gastric adenocarcinoma, parotid gland adenoid cystic carcinoma, duodenal adenocarcinoma, T-cell leukemia and lymphoma, nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, melanoma, osteosarcoma, uterus cancer and non-small cell lung carcinoma.
 65. The method of claim 64, wherein the tumor is selected from the group consisting of bladder carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and colon carcinoma.
 66. The method of claim 60, wherein the siRNA molecule comprises a sense strand having a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-4, or in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 5-8, or in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 19-30.
 67. A method for inhibiting tumor metastasis in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the recombinant construct according to claim 50, wherein said subject is afflicted with a tumor characterized by expression of H19 RNA in at least a portion of the cells of the tumor.
 68. The method according to claim 67 for inhibiting the formation of liver metastases.
 69. The method of claim 68, wherein the siRNA comprises a sense strand having a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-4, or in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 5-8, or in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 19-30.
 70. A method for specifically reducing the levels of H19 RNA in a population of H19 expressing cells, comprising introducing into the cells a therapeutically effective amount of the recombinant construct according to claim
 50. 71. The method of claim 70, wherein the siRNA comprises a sense strand having a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-4, or in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 5-8, or in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 19-30.
 72. The method of claim 70 comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising the construct, or introducing the construct into the cells ex vivo.
 73. The method of claim 72 comprising introducing the construct into the cells ex vivo, and further comprising the step of introducing the cells comprising said construct into a subject in need thereof.
 74. The method of claim 70, wherein said cells are stem cells.
 75. A method for preventing stem cell differentiation comprising introducing into the cells the recombinant construct according to claim
 50. 76. The method of claim 75, wherein the siRNA comprises a sense strand having a nucleic acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-4, or in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 5-8, or in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 19-30. 